EXCLUSIVE: NFL legend Joe Theismann just so happened to put on the Jacksonville Jaguars game against the Houston Texans on Dec. 1. 

Seven games took place at the 1 p.m. slot that day, including one featuring Theismann's former team, the Washington Commanders. But out of sheer coincidence, he tuned in to watch a game that ended up with one of the most controversial moments of the NFL season.

Theismann saw the Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence take a vicious illegal hit from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in the second quarter when the quarterback tried to slide down on a play. It was the last play for either player this season, as Al-Shaair was ejected and dealt a three-game suspension while Lawrence has been placed on season-ending injury reserve. 

"It is a violent sport, people hit one another, and sometimes things happen," Theismann told Fox News Digital. "The league evidently really made the decision and gave him a three-game suspension so they felt that maybe [Al-Shaair] could have controlled the hit a bit more."

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For Theismann, it was a moment that resembled the last time he played a down in the NFL 39 years ago. In November of the 1985 season, Theismann was tackled by New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor on a play that broke the former quarterback's leg and ended his playing career. 

The hit to Lawrence won't have nearly the same impact, but it did give him a concussion and sparked a massive brawl between teammates. But Theismann also believes that it's a moment that should also spark a discussion on quarterbacks sliding.

"The quarterback slide, now they're going to have to revisit a little bit. As a quarterback you have to consider the way you want to protect yourself. I've always told players this, don't just let the rules or the officials protect you, protect yourself," Theismann said. 

"If you're going to slide, guy will, now because of this, maybe slide a little bit quicker, a little bit earlier, so you try and hope that something like this will be used in a positive way so that we don't see this happen again." 

Theismann declined to comment about whether he thought the suspension to Al-Shaair was justified. 

Fellow famed NFL quarterback Tom Brady delivered a similar take to Theismann's during an interview on "The Herd" on Dec. 3. 

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"Defensive players have to be aggressive, that's they're nature," Brady said. "The quarterbacks need to take better care of themselves… When you run, you put yourself in a lot of danger. When you do that, I don’t think the onus of protecting an offensive quarterback who’s running should be on a defensive player. I don’t think that’s really fair to a defense."

Brady also said he disagreed with the notion that Al-Shaair's hit indicates the linebacker is a "dirty player."

However, others have been much more critical of Al-Shaair. 

Jon Runyan, NFL vice president of football operations, released a scathing statement about Al-Shaair shortly after the incident, amid a wave of intense backlash against the linebacker for the hit. 

"Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL… Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated," Runyan said.

Al-Shaair has apologized for the hit and insisted that it wasn't intentional. But the backlash has been so strong that he's reacted to it in multiple ways. 

Al-Shaair also spoke out against "racist and Islamophobic fans" in the aftermath of the public response to the incident. Many fans scrutinized him for wearing pro-Palestinian cleats.

"To the rest of the people who I’ve been called every single name in the book from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and Islamophobic fans and people, you don’t know my heart nor my character which I don’t need to prove to any of you. God knows my intentions and anyone who has been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart," he wrote in a statement. 

After it was announced Al-Shaair's appeal of his three-game suspension was denied, he sent a message with a different tone Wednesday. 

Al-Shaair posted an Instagram photo collection with the cryptic caption, "IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN! SEE YOU SOON."

The four photos he posted were of him entering the field, a pro-Palestinian cleat, a photo of Heath Ledger as the Joker and a quote that said, "There is a beauty in being rejected, misunderstood, unseen, and unprotected by people. It teaches you to rely on Allah for everything."

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The NFL fined Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram for retaliation against the player who delivered a season-ending hit to quarterback Trevor Lawrence. 

Engram was fined $11,255 after attacking Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in retaliation for his hit on Lawrence in the second quarter of Sunday's game, according to NFL.com. 

Engram was the first Jaguars player to go after Al-Shaair after the hit, as players from both teams swarmed to the area of the hit.

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"It was a dirty hit," Engram told reporters after the game. "In that moment, instinct was just, it didn't feel like a clean hit, so I had to go stand up for my quarterback. 

"I just knew it was wrong. It was a dirty play. You stood up for your guys. It's just how it goes."

While Engram was fined, Al-Shaair was suspended three games without pay. The NFL has said the linebacker's involvement in the brawl played into the discipline. 

Lawrence sustained his second concussion in a year from the hit and was placed on injured reserve. The quarterback will undergo shoulder surgery for an injury he initially sustained in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

TREVOR LAWRENCE PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE, LIKELY ENDING HIS SEASON AFTER DANGEROUS HIT

Lawrence posted on X Sunday night that he was "home and feeling better."

After the game, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans criticized the Jaguars for "overreacting" after Al-Shaair's hit on Lawrence, suggesting the quarterback was at fault.

"It wasn’t our guys. It’s their team overreacted, pushed our guy, dragging our guy to the sideline. So, that’s uncalled for on that side. We have to be better on the sidelines as well, with both teams," Ryans told reporters Sunday. 

"I think what can be done is just you have to look at all sides, and we don’t have to overreact just because I think a guy gets hurt," he said. "We’re not intentionally trying to hurt anyone. I think there is an overreaction when someone gets hurt, but we just have to look at it all from all perspectives."

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson defended his team for its reaction to the hit and called Ryans' response to the incident "surprising." 

"We’re not out to hurt anybody. We’re not out to ruin careers. We’re out to win a football game and play hard within the rules. That’s our job. That’s how we coach it. That’s how we play it," Pederson said. 

"If they’re asking or suggesting we go after someone, we’re not doing that. Flat out, we are not doing that. It’s not how I coach. It’s not how I’m going to coach these teams, these players. We’re just going to go out and do our jobs. Play hard, play fast, play physical within the rules."

Al-Shaair has issued an apology and insisted he didn't intend to hit Lawrence illegally. The linebacker has also spoken out against "racist and Islamophobic fans" in the aftermath of the public response to the incident. 

But after it was announced Al-Shaair's appeal of his three-game suspension was denied, he sent a message with a different tone Wednesday. 

Al-Shaair posted an Instagram photo collection with the cryptic caption, "IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN! SEE YOU SOON."

The four photos he posted were of him entering the field, a pro-Palestinian cleat, a photo of Heath Ledger as The Joker and a quote that said, "There is a beauty in being rejected, misunderstood, unseen, and unprotected by people. It teaches you to rely on Allah for everything."

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The NFL announced on Wednesday that it was upholding the three-game suspension for Azeez Al-Shaair.

The Houston Texans linebacker hit Trevor Lawrence in the head and neck area, which landed him on injured reserve, likely ending his season.

Al-Shaair posted an apology to Lawrence on Monday, but he took a different route on Wednesday.

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He posted on Instagram a photo collage with the cryptic caption, "IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN! [middle finger emoji] SEE YOU SOON"

The four photos he posted were of himself entering the field, a pro-Palestinian cleat, a photo of Heath Ledger as The Joker and a quote reading "There is a beauty in being rejected, misunderstood, unseen, and unprotected by people. It teaches you to rely on Allah for everything."

Lawrence posted on X on Sunday night that he was "home and feeling better," but the IR stint will cause him to miss the next four games.

That would make Lawrence eligible to return for the final game of the season, but it is hard to imagine the Jaguars risking anything in a meaningless game. In fact, the only meaning for them could be the No. 1 overall pick of the draft.

TREVOR LAWRENCE PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE, LIKELY ENDING HIS SEASON AFTER DANGEROUS HIT

Jon Runyan, NFL vice president of football operations, announced that Al-Shaair would be suspended without pay in a lengthy letter, calling the hit "unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules."

The hit resulted in a melee between the two teams, but Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said the Jags overreacted.

"Unfortunate that Trevor got hurt. Hope Trevor is OK, but it’s also, if we’re sliding, we have to get down. If we’re getting out of bounds, we get out of bounds and that rule is there to protect the quarterbacks, and we want our quarterbacks to be safe in the league, so we just have to be safe. If we’re sliding, make sure we’re keeping our heads down. And the entire thing is Azeez – he hits the guy, but their sideline overreacts, and it turns into a melee.

"It wasn’t our guys. It’s their team overreacted, pushed our guy, dragging our guy to the sideline, so that’s uncalled for on that side. We have to be better on the sidelines, as well, with both teams."

Runyan also pointed to Al-Shaair’s involvement in the on-field brawl that erupted after the hit, as well as previous hits he has had that led to his punishment.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will require surgery to repair an AC joint injury in his left shoulder, according to NFL.com. 

Lawrence initially injured his shoulder in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles and missed two games before returning Sunday against the Houston Texans. He was the victim of an illegal hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair that landed him on season-ending injured reserve.

The hit incited a brief but intense melee between the two teams after Al-Shaair was flagged on the play and later dealt a three-game suspension without pay. 

Lawrence's fourth NFL season ended after a disappointing 2-10 start. It's the second year in a row Lawrence has injured his shoulder. 

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Last season, he sustained a shoulder injury in a 30–12 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. He missed the team's next game, the first he had missed in his career due to injury. He had only missed games in college at Clemson when he tested positive for COVID in 2020. 

Lawrence, who signed a $275 million contract extension with the Jaguars in the offseason, will undergo the second major surgery of his life. He previously had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder before he was drafted first overall in 2021. 

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The hit has become one of the most controversial moments of the 2024 NFL season, prompting backlash against Al-Shaair and sparking conversations about player safety among current and former players like Tom Brady and Stephon Gilmore.

Al-Shaair has apologized for the hit and insisted it wasn't intentional. The linebacker appealed his suspension, but the NFL upheld it. 

Al-Shaair also spoke out against "racist and Islamophobic fans" in the aftermath of the public response to the incident. 

"I’ve always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that. My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play," he said in a statement. "And when the game is over go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal! It’s just competition. We both are trying to do the same thing which is provide for our families!

"I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’ To the rest of his teammates I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that."

Al-Shaair was fined earlier this year after he punched Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline during a Week 2 game. The incident occurred during a scuffle that started after Al-Shaair's hard shot on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline wasn’t flagged.

The hit against Lawrence Sunday resulted in multiple Jaguars players pouncing on Al-Shaair in retaliation, leading to the violent melee. 

Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was the first player seen pushing and shoving Al-Shaair after the hit before other Jacksonville players followed.

Head coach Doug Pederson defended his team Wednesday for its response. 

"We’re not out to hurt anybody. We’re not out to ruin careers. We’re out to win a football game and play hard within the rules. That’s our job. That’s how we coach it, that’s how we play it," Pederson said at a team press conference. 

"If they’re asking or suggesting we go after someone, we’re not doing that. Flat out, we are not doing that. It’s not how I coach. It’s not how I’m going to coach these teams, these players. We’re just going to go out and do our jobs. Play hard, play fast, play physical within the rules."

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans suggested Lawrence should share responsibility for the hit. 

"We stand behind Azeez and everything that came from that," Ryans said. "Of course, unfortunate hit on a quarterback, but it's two-fold. A lot of the quarterbacks in this day and age, they try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late, and they try to get an extra yard. 

"Now, you're a defender, and a lot of onus is on the defender. … Unfortunate that Trevor got hurt. We hope Trevor's OK. But, also, if we're sliding, you have to get down."

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Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair won't escape his three-game suspension after an illegal hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. 

The NFL upheld the suspension after Al-Shaair appealed it.

"Hearing officer Ramon Foster, jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, has upheld the three-game suspension of Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair," NFL Senior Vice President of Football & International Communications Michael Signora wrote Wednesday in a post on X. 

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Al-Shaair's hit on Lawrence took place with just over four minutes remaining in the first half of Sunday's game between Jacksonville and Houston. Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play when he initiated a slide. At that point, Al-Shaair appeared to raise his forearm and make a hit on the defenseless quarterback.

Chaos then broke out on the field when Jacksonville players responded physically to Al-Shaair's hit, sparking a violent melee between the two teams. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was the first player seen pushing and shoving Al-Shaair after the hit, before multiple other players followed suit.

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After the game, Al-Shaair also spoke out against "racist and Islamophobic fans" in the aftermath of the public response to the incident. He has also apologized and insisted it was not on purpose. 

"I’ve always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that. My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play," he said in a statement. "And when the game is over go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal! It’s just competition. We both are trying to do the same thing which is provide for our families!"

"I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’ To the rest of his teammates I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that," Al-Shaair said.

Al-Shaair was fined earlier this year after he punched Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline during their game in Week 2. The incident occurred during a scuffle that started after Al-Shaair's hard shot on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline wasn’t flagged.

Meanwhile, Lawrence was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, effectively ending his season. 

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson defended his team on Wednesday after a controversial brawl against the Houston Texans. 

After Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence took an illegal hit on a slide by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, chaos broke out on the field when Jaguars players responded physically to Al-Shaair's hit, sparking a violent melee between the two teams. 

Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was the first player seen pushing and shoving Al-Shaair after the hit, before multiple other Jacksonville players followed suit.

Pederson denied the notion that his players were "going after" anybody. 

"We’re not out to hurt anybody. We’re not out to ruin careers. We’re out to win a football game and play hard within the rules. That’s our job. That’s how we coach it, that’s how we play it," Pederson said at a team press conference. 

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"If they’re asking or suggesting we go after someone, we’re not doing that. Flat out, we are not doing that. It’s not how I coach. It’s not how I’m going to coach these teams, these players. We’re just going to go out and do our jobs. Play hard, play fast, play physical within the rules."

Pederson also said that he was "a little surprised" that Houston coach DeMeco Ryans blamed Jacksonville’s sideline for escalating the brawl. 

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Al-Shaair was suspended by the NFL without pay for three games for repeated violations of player safety rules following the hit to Lawrence’s head, which caused the quarterback’s second concussion in less than a year.

Al-Shaair also spoke out against "racist and Islamophobic fans," in the aftermath of the public response to the incident. 

"I’ve always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that. My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play," he said in a statement. "And when the game is over go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal! It’s just competition. We both are trying to do the same thing which is provide for our families!

"I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want t see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’ To the rest of his teammates I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that.

Meanwhile, Lawrence was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, effectively ending his season. 

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After taking a nasty hit to the head on Sunday, Trevor Lawrence's season appears to be over.

The Jacksonville Jaguars placed their quarterback on injured reserve, three days after the blow he took.

Lawrence scrambled on first down with just over 4 minutes to play in the half. He tried sliding to avoid the hit, but as he went down, Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair launched into Lawrence’s head and neck area. The quarterback was down for a bit and Jaguars players came over to dole out some of their own kind of justice toward Al-Shaair.

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Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and suspended for three more contests.

Lawrence posted on X Sunday night that he was "home and feeling better," but the IR stint will cause him to miss the next four games.

That would make Lawrence eligible to return for the final game of the season, but it's hard to imagine the Jaguars risking anything in a meaningless game – in fact, the only meaning for them could be the No. 1 pick of the draft.

Jon Runyan, NFL vice president of football operations, announced that Al-Shaair would be suspended without pay in a lengthy letter, calling the hit "unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules."

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Runyan also pointed to Al-Shaair’s involvement in the on-field brawl that erupted after the hit, as well as previous hits he has had that led to his punishment.

Al-Shaair issued an apology on Monday. 

"To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening," Al-Shaair wrote. "Before the game we spoke and I told you how great it was to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them, especially one that was ruled ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’"

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Jacksonville Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence kicked off a debate about quarterbacks’ tactics when it came to sliding after scrambles.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas weighed in on the debate on Tuesday after the NFL announced a three-game suspension for Al-Shaair. He wrote in a post on X that the league needed to get the so-called "weaponized quarterback slide" out of the sport.

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"As dangerous as hits on a quarterback are when the quarterback chooses to slide, we need to stop allowing quarterbacks to fake slide or late slide in order to gain yardage and confuse the defenders on if the quarterback is sliding or not," Thomas wrote. "It would go a long way towards taking those terrible hits out of the game and making things more safe for the quarterback and for the defender.

"A late slide, fake slide, or acting like you’re gonna go out of bounds and then skirting forward for a few more yards; these all need to be 15 yard penalties against the offense. And it’s about time the NFL referees started marking the ball down immediately when the quarterback starts to slide… Which is the rule by the way!

"If this happens, the big hits on quarterbacks when they’re sliding will be completely eliminated from the game. That’s what we all want right?"

NFL ALL-PRO DEFENDER SEES 'BOTH SIDES' OF TREVOR LAWRENCE HIT: 'IT'S TRICKY'

The play in question occurred late in the second quarter of the Texans and Jaguars’ matchup on Sunday.

Lawrence scrambled for a few yards and then decided to slide. At that same moment, Al-Shaair came in and nailed Lawrence in the head and neck area with his forearm. The hit sparked a brawl between Texans and Jaguars players.

NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan released a scathing statement about Al-Shaair as the league announced his suspension Tuesday.

"Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL … Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated," Runyan said in part.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars added a Super Bowl champion quarterback to its roster on Tuesday as the team was dealt a major injury to their depth chart over the weekend.

Trevor Lawrence suffered a concussion from a brutal hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. The defender was suspended for three games over the blow. Lawrence’s status going into Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans is not known just yet. 

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He still has to clear concussion protocol and make sure the sprained AC joint he was dealing with was also OK.

In the meantime, the Jaguars added John Wolford to the quarterback room. He was signed to the practice squad and could be in line to be the backup for Mac Jones should Lawrence get ruled out for the game against the Titans.

Wolford was a part of the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl team during the 2021 season. He has played in seven games in his career, starting four of them. He has 626 passing yards and one touchdown pass in that span. In those four starts, he is 2-2.

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He started his career with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He made his way to the Rams in 2019 and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. The Buccaneers released Wolford before the start of the 2024 season.

Jacksonville also has C.J. Beathard on its roster as well.

The Jaguars are 2-10 this season. The team was ranked No. 30 in the latest Fox News Digital Sports NFL power rankings.

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Trevor Lawrence was knocked out of Sunday's game after taking a hit to the head by Azeez Al-Shaair.

Al-Shaair was suspended three games for the hit that was widely deemed dirty. However, the Houston Texans linebacker said he had no ill-intent, and general manager Nick Caseio called the treatment of the defender "bulls---."

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore would not go that far, but in a recent interview with Fox News Digital, he noted that it is a difficult circumstance.

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"You never want to see someone get hit like that. It’s kind of tricky sometimes with quarterbacks running, trying to get first downs, and then sliding at the last second, I see both sides," he said.

Gilmore seemed to agree that defenders almost never get the benefit of the doubt on those bang-bang plays that happen in the blink of an eye.

"It’s hard – some quarterbacks slide early, sometimes you try to get a first down so they get aggressive," he said. "You don’t know when to pull back and go for the tackle, so it’s tricky."

Gilmore's comments echo what Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said about the ordeal, who even said the Jaguars players overreacted.

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"But it’s also – it’s twofold, right? I mean a lot of the quarterbacks in this day and age. They try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late, and they try to get an extra yard, and now you’re a defender, a lot of onus is on the defender whether it’s on the sideline or whether it’s on the quarterback, you don’t know what a guy thinking," Ryans said. "You don’t know if a guy is standing up and he’s continuing to run, you don’t know, and then you get a late slide, and you’re – you hit the guy. 

"Unfortunate that Trevor got hurt. Hope Trevor is OK, but it’s also, if we’re sliding, we have to get down. If we’re getting out of bounds, we get out of bounds and that rule is there to protect the quarterbacks, and we want our quarterbacks to be safe in the league, so we just have to be safe. If we’re sliding, make sure we’re keeping our heads down. And the entire thing is Azeez – he hits the guy, but their sideline overreacts, and it turns into a melee.

"It wasn’t our guys. It’s their team overreacted, pushed our guy, dragging our guy to the sideline, so that’s uncalled for on that side. We have to be better on the sidelines, as well, with both teams."

Jon Runyan, NFL vice president of football operations, said Al-Shaair's actions after the hit, and other dirty plays, contributed to his penalty.

Lawrence posted on X on Sunday night that he was "home and feeling better."

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Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended for three games for the late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars' Trevor Lawerence that led to the quarterback being carted off the field with a concussion on Sunday, the league announced on Tuesday. 

Jon Runyan, NFL vice president of football operations, announced that Al-Shaair would be suspended without pay in a lengthy letter, calling the hit "unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules."

"Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide… You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact," the letter to Al-Shaair read. 

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Runyan also pointed to Al-Shaair’s involvement in the on-field brawl that erupted after the hit. 

"You proceeded to engage in a brawl, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask.  After the referee announced that you were disqualified for the hit and your unsportsmanlike acts, you removed your helmet and reengaged with your opponent while walking down and across the field, which started another physical confrontation near the end zone." 

Runyan said Al-Shaair’s "lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football" does not "reflect the core values of the NFL" and called it "troubling."

"Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated."

TEXANS' DEMECO RYANS SUGGESTS TREVOR LAWRENCE BARES SOME BLAME FOR BRUTAL HIT, SAYS JAGS PLAYERS OVERREACTED

The hit took place with just over four minutes remaining in the first half. Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play when he initiated a slide. At that point, Al-Shaair appeared to raise his forearm and make a hit on the defenseless quarterback.

A brawl on the field erupted and Al-Shaair was ejected. He issued an apology on Monday. 

"To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening," Al-Shaair wrote. "Before the game we spoke and I told you how great it was to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them, especially one that was ruled ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’"

Tuesday’s letter from the NFL appeared to call out Al-Shaair for his repeated violations this season. 

Last week, he was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard.

He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline wasn’t flagged.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans suggested on Monday that Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was at fault for the concussion he suffered on the huge hit from linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during their matchup over the weekend.

Al-Shaair hit Lawrence around the head and neck area as Lawrence slid during a scramble. Ryans told reporters the organization stood behind Al-Shaair after the hit and the criticism he received for it. The coach did not appear to think that Al-Shaair was the only one at fault.

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Ryans called the hit on Lawrence "unfortunate."

"But it’s also – it’s twofold, right? I mean a lot of the quarterbacks in this day and age. They try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late, and they try to get an extra yard, and now you’re a defender, a lot of onus is on the defender whether it’s on the sideline or whether it’s on the quarterback, you don’t know what a guy thinking," Ryans said. "You don’t know if a guy is standing up and he’s continuing to run, you don’t know, and then you get a late slide, and you’re – you hit the guy. 

"Unfortunate that Trevor got hurt. Hope Trevor is OK, but it’s also, if we’re sliding, we have to get down. If we’re getting out of bounds, we get out of bounds and that rule is there to protect the quarterbacks, and we want our quarterbacks to be safe in the league, so we just have to be safe. If we’re sliding, make sure we’re keeping our heads down. And the entire thing is Azeez – he hits the guy, but their sideline overreacts, and it turns into a melee.

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"It wasn’t our guys. It’s their team overreacted, pushed our guy, dragging our guy to the sideline, so that’s uncalled for on that side. We have to be better on the sidelines, as well, with both teams."

Ryans suggested that too much of the onus was on the defender to somehow miss the sliding quarterback in bang-bang situations.

"I think what can be done is just you have to look at all sides, and we don’t have to overreact just because I think a guy gets hurt," he said. "We’re not intentionally trying to hurt anyone. I think there is an overreaction when someone gets hurt, but we just have to look at it all from all perspectives."

Al-Shaair apologized for the hit on Lawrence and understood why Jaguars players reacted the way they did.

ESPN reported that it is anticipated the NFL will suspend Al-Shaair.

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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans suggested on Monday that Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was at fault for the concussion he suffered on the huge hit from linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during their matchup over the weekend.

Al-Shaair hit Lawrence around the head and neck area as Lawrence slid during a scramble. Ryans told reporters the organization stood behind Al-Shaair after the hit and the criticism he received for it. The coach did not appear to think that Al-Shaair was the only one at fault.

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Ryans called the hit on Lawrence "unfortunate."

"But it’s also – it’s twofold, right? I mean a lot of the quarterbacks in this day and age. They try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late, and they try to get an extra yard, and now you’re a defender, a lot of onus is on the defender whether it’s on the sideline or whether it’s on the quarterback, you don’t know what a guy thinking," Ryans said. "You don’t know if a guy is standing up and he’s continuing to run, you don’t know, and then you get a late slide, and you’re – you hit the guy. 

"Unfortunate that Trevor got hurt. Hope Trevor is OK, but it’s also, if we’re sliding, we have to get down. If we’re getting out of bounds, we get out of bounds and that rule is there to protect the quarterbacks, and we want our quarterbacks to be safe in the league, so we just have to be safe. If we’re sliding, make sure we’re keeping our heads down. And the entire thing is Azeez – he hits the guy, but their sideline overreacts, and it turns into a melee.

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"It wasn’t our guys. It’s their team overreacted, pushed our guy, dragging our guy to the sideline, so that’s uncalled for on that side. We have to be better on the sidelines, as well, with both teams."

Ryans suggested that too much of the onus was on the defender to somehow miss the sliding quarterback in bang-bang situations.

"I think what can be done is just you have to look at all sides, and we don’t have to overreact just because I think a guy gets hurt," he said. "We’re not intentionally trying to hurt anyone. I think there is an overreaction when someone gets hurt, but we just have to look at it all from all perspectives."

Al-Shaair apologized for the hit on Lawrence and understood why Jaguars players reacted the way they did.

ESPN reported that it is anticipated the NFL will suspend Al-Shaair.

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Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair broke his silence on Monday morning after he received criticism for the hit he put on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, which left him with a concussion.

Al-Shaair also took a shot at reporters and those who scrutinized him for his pro-Palestinian cleats in the aftermath of the hit.

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"I’ve always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that. My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play," he said in a statement. "And when the game is over go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal! It’s just competition. We both are trying to do the same thing which is provide for our families!

"I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want t see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’ To the rest of his teammates I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that.

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"To the rest of the people who I’ve been called every single name in the book from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and Islamophobic fans and people, you don’t know my heart nor my character which I don’t need to prove to any of you. God knows my intentions and anyone who has been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart."

Al-Shaair was ejected from the Texans’ 23-20 win over the Jaguars because of the hit to Lawrence’s head and neck area. It sparked a brawl, which led to the ejection of Jacksonville cornerback Jarrian Jones.

Jaguars players defended Lawrence and called Al-Shaair’s hit "dirty."

Lawrence gave a health update later Sunday.

"Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me," he wrote on X. "I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all."

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence left Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans with a concussion he suffered on a brutal hit from linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.

Lawrence was down for a few moments before he was able to walk to a cart and get taken off the field. Mac Jones played the rest of the game, and Jacksonville fell to Houston, 23-20.

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Marissa Lawrence, Trevor’s wife, thanked those who reached out to her.

"Thank you for all of the texts and prayers," she wrote in a post on her Instagram Stories. "Just taking time to make sure he’s okay and get healthy but we appreciate all of the love and support."

The Jaguars quarterback also had a health update in a post on X.

"Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me. I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all," he wrote on X.

The hit on Lawrence sparked a big brawl between players from both teams. Al-Shaair was ejected for the contact, while Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones was ejected for his role in the fight.

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Jaguars players ripped Al-Shaair for the hit.

"That was a dumb hit on his part," Josh Allen-Hines said, via ESPN. "At the end of the day he’s just playing football, but again, the way we’ve changed the rules of how we play, we go over these things.

"We talk about these things. We know how to play football. A couple of years ago, that would’ve been a great hit, but now that wasn’t a good play on him. I am not going to sit up there and say, does he deserve to get suspended or not? That’s not my call at that moment. It wasn’t smart."

Jacksonville tight end Evan Engram called Al-Shaair’s hit "dirty," and he felt he had to defend Lawrence at that moment.

"It was just instinct," he said, via the Jaguars’ site. "It didn't feel like a clean hit, so just go stick up for him. I saw him sliding, and then I saw the hit. I just knew it was wrong. I knew it was a dirty play."

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The Jacksonville Jaguars may have come up short against the Houston Texans on Sunday, but players made sure they got their licks in after a huge hit that knocked out quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence suffered a concussion when he was hit around the head and neck by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Lawrence was sliding during a scramble when Al-Shaair came through and cracked him. 

The tackle sparked a brief brouhaha and ended with Al-Shaair and Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones being ejected from the game. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was penalized for unnecessary roughness as well.

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Engram called Al-Shaair’s hit "dirty," and he felt he had to defend Lawrence at that moment.

"It was just instinct," he said, via the Jaguars’ site. "It didn't feel like a clean hit, so just go stick up for him. I saw him sliding, and then I saw the hit. I just knew it was wrong. I knew it was a dirty play."

Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen-Hines did not like the play either. He did not say whether Al-Shaair should be suspended.

"That was a dumb hit on his part," Allen-Hines said, via ESPN. "At the end of the day he’s just playing football, but again, the way we’ve changed the rules of how we play, we go over these things.

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"We talk about these things. We know how to play football. A couple of years ago, that would’ve been a great hit, but now that wasn’t a good play on him. I am not going to sit up there and say, does he deserve to get suspended or not? That’s not my call at that moment. It wasn’t smart."

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said the incident was "a play nobody wants to see in our league." He added that he expected the NFL to issue fines for those involved in the melee.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans lamented Al-Shaair’s hit.

"It’s unfortunate with the hit with Azeez," he said, via Pro Football Talk. "That’s not what we’re coaching. We want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team. ... We just have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down. It’s an unfortunate play. It’s not representative of who Azeez is. He’s a smart player and really a great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there, his loss really affected us on the defensive side.

"It’s not what we’re coaching. I didn’t want to see the melee and all of the aftermath. It’s not what we’re about. It’s not representative of us. I’ll talk to Azeez, address him personally, and we’ll move forward from it."

Houston won the game 23-20.

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A huge hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence from Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair sparked a brawl during their game on Sunday.

Lawrence scrambled on first down with just over 4 minutes to play in the half. He tried sliding to avoid the hit, but as he went down, Al-Shaair launched into Lawrence’s head and neck area. The quarterback was down for a bit and Jaguars players came over to dole out some of their own kind of justice toward Al-Shaair.

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Al-Shaair was also seen getting into it with Jaguars offensive lineman Brandon Scherff. Both players had to be held back.

As the dust cleared, penalties were handed out. Al-Shaair and Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones were both ejected from the game. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was hit with an unnecessary roughness penalty.

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Lawrence was able to sit upright and left the game on a cart. He was 4-for-10 with 41 passing yards and an interception in the game.

The Jaguars ruled him out with a concussion.

Houston led 6-0 at that point.

The Texans were looking to rectify an upset loss at the hands of the Tennessee Titans last week. They entered the game with a 7-5 record.

Jacksonville has been toward the bottom of the league standings this season and are in a position to possibly get the No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft.

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While many enjoy Thanksgiving football, all NFL teams know that the holiday means "Black Monday" isn't too far away.

It’s still a few weeks away, but "Black Monday" refers to the day following the final Sunday of the regular season, which is when organizations determine coaching moves depending on how the season went. 

Well, one NFL analyst believes this could be a very busy Monday after Week 18.

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Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated’s "Monday Morning Quarterback" made an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show," where he said there could be seven to 10 head coaches fired after what’s been a tumultuous season for a lot of franchise. 

Breer pointed out that two head coaches, Dennis Allen with the New Orleans Saints and Robert Saleh with the New York Jets, who were already fired mid-season. 

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"We have two, we have the Saints and the Jets, I think we can agree the Jags are sort of fait accompli, so that’s three, Dallas looks like it’s going that way, that’s four. So now, you only need three more so, I think it’s somewhere between seven and 10," Breer said.

"I don’t think it’s going to be record-breaking or anything like that, but I think it’s somewhere between seven and 10."

Looking at the teams Breer mentioned, the Cowboys are expected to move on from head coach Mike McCarthy, whose contract is up after Week 18. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t shut the door on a potential extension, but if Dallas doesn’t finish strong, it’s hard to see McCarthy returning despite three straight 12-5 seasons in years before 2024. 

Then, Duval County has Doug Pederson already out the door despite a similar situation as McCarthy with the franchise sticking with him through a 2-9 season thus far. 

Other coaches that find themselves on the hot seat are Brian Daboll (New York Giants), Matt Eberflus (Chicago Bears), Antonio Pierce (Las Vegas Raiders), and Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals) among others. 

As for Daboll, Giants owner John Mara did give him a vote of confidence, saying that he didn’t anticipate making any changes this offseason, which also includes GM Joe Schoen, despite the Giants heading into Thanksgiving to face the Cowboys with a 2-9 record. 

NFL players, coaches and front offices all know that, despite playoffs not being in the picture, playing strong through the remainder of the year could be the difference between remaining in place or searching for the next opportunity. 

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